Prediction of Icing Effects on the Coupled Dynamic Response of Light Airplanes

Most methods for the preliminary safety and performance evaluation of airplane dynamical response, stability characteristics, and climb performance in icing conditions require relatively sophisticated methods, based on detailed empirical data and existing flight data. This paper extends a pitch axis 3-degree-of-freedom methodology to the fully coupled, 6-degree-of-freedom case. It evaluates various levels of icing severity and addresses distributed icing with unequal ice distribution between wing halves on the coupled pitch, roll, and yaw responses. The important aspect of dynamic response sensitivity to pilot control input with the autopilot disabled is also highlighted. Using only basic mass properties, configuration, propulsion data, and known icing data from a similar configuration, icing effects are applied to the 6-degree-of-freedom dynamics of a nonreal-time simulation model of a different, but similar, light airplane. Results presented in the paper for a series of simulated climb maneuvers and cruise disturbances with equal or unequal ice levels between wing halves show that the methodology captures the basic effects of ice accretion on the coupled pitch, roll, and yaw responses and the sensitivity of the dynamic response to pilot control inputs.

[1]  Jan Roskam,et al.  Preliminary calculation of aerodynamic, thrust and power characteristics , 1987 .

[2]  Michael B. Bragg,et al.  Unsteady aerodynamic measurements on an iced airfoil , 2002 .

[3]  Andy P. Broeren,et al.  Effect of Intercycle Ice Accretions on Airfoil Performance , 2002 .

[4]  Sam Lee,et al.  Investigation of Factors Affecting Iced-Airfoil Aerodynamics , 2003 .

[5]  Andy P. Broeren,et al.  Effect of Airfoil Geometry on Performance with Simulated Intercycle Ice Accretions , 2003 .

[6]  Michael B. Bragg,et al.  Aircraft Characterization in Icing Using Flight Test Data , 2004 .

[7]  B. Lu,et al.  Airfoil Drag Measurement with Simulated Leading-Edge Ice Using the Wake Survey Method , 2003 .

[8]  Michael B. Bragg,et al.  Aircraft aerodynamic effects due to large droplet ice accretions , 1996 .

[9]  John Valasek,et al.  Prediction of Icing Effects on the Dynamic Response of Light Airplanes , 2007 .

[10]  Petros G. Voulgaris,et al.  Smart icing systems for aircraft icing safety , 2002 .

[11]  John Valasek,et al.  [american institute of aeronautics and astronautics aiaa atmospheric flight mechanics conference and exhibit - keystone, colorado ()] aiaa atmospheric flight mechanics conference and exhibit - prediction of icing effects on the lateral/directional stability and control of light airplanes , 2006 .

[12]  Emilio Frazzoli,et al.  Aircraft Autopilot Analysis and Envelope Protection for Operation Under Icing Conditions , 2004 .

[13]  Richard Colgren,et al.  Derivations of Major Coupling Derivatives, and the State Space Formulation, of the Coupled Equations of Motion , 2006 .

[14]  William R. Perkins,et al.  An Interdisciplinary Approach to Inflight Aircraft Icing Safety , 1998 .

[15]  Krzysztof Sibilski,et al.  Aircraft Climbing Flight Dynamics With Simulated Ice Accretion , 2004 .

[16]  Yung Choo,et al.  Study of icing effects on performance and controllability of an accident aircraft , 2000 .

[17]  Petros G. Voulgaris,et al.  Parameter identification for inflight detection and characterization of aircraft icing , 2000 .

[18]  Michael B. Bragg,et al.  Effect of ice accretion on aircraft flight dynamics , 2000 .

[19]  Marc Rauw,et al.  FDC 1.2 - A Simulink Toolbox for Flight Dynamics and Control Analysis , 2001 .

[20]  Michael B. Bragg,et al.  Experimental Investigation of Simulated Large-Droplet Ice Shapes on Airfoil Aerodynamics , 1999 .

[21]  Andy P. Broeren,et al.  Flowfield Measurements About an Airfoil with Leading-Edge Ice Shapes , 2006 .